Welcome to the National Runaway Safeline Forum, where you can post your questions, thoughts, and concerns about what it's like to be a teenager or a parent. If there's something you've been wondering about, please ask. Chances are good that a lot of other people have been wondering the same thing.

Hi im *******. I want to runaway to live with my boyfriend. He lives in virginia and i live in kentucky. He said he will drive me to his house and I could live there he said. Well I dont want to ruin my education. So if i went to a school in virginia would I get caught by the school? Will cops show up and take me home? Can i go to school there with out getting caught?

IP

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Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

Hi I ran away to another state across several state lines to do it. It's so difficult to live now nobody's looking for me. But I didn't run away with important stuff like my birth certificate or my social card or my ID so it's hard to make money. Its hard to go to school I didn't even finish my 10th grade year. I planned my whole life out and then it all ********ed up when I ran away to my mom . That I haven't seen in like 9 years until the 2018 summer and then when I got some back to my dad I stayed there for a month then ran away to her but she doesn't want me. She can't take care of me. We don't have a house. I have to take care of my siblings. I have to find a way for me to eat. I have to find a house for me to sleep. Most of the time I stay with my little brother's father, my mom's EX he takes care of me and my siblings more than she does. Hell I take care of my siblings more than she then does. I'm just ready to get the hell out and be myself be independent have my life. I know what to do. I just needed to confide in somebody but every time I talk about myself I think people have it worse and I just shut up. Any advice for me it's been 10 months since I've ran away.

IP

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Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

Hi my name is ************** I want to run away and go see my boyfriend in Texas but I live in Chicago I was wondering if I use my passport and my mom does a report can they find me ? I have ran away before but not out the states

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Sounds like you are planning on running from Chicago to Texas and would like to use your passport to get there. We are not quite sure what you mean by this, so please call or chat us if you would like to clarify what you mean: 1-800-RUNAWAY; www.1800runaway.org. Generally speaking, if you are under 18 your guardian can report you as a runaway. If you show your passport to police instead of an ID, they can still look you up in the system under your name to see if you are listed as a runaway.

We hope this answers your question, but if not, please call or chat us so we can best help.

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Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. So from what we gather about your situation it seems like if yes you were went to the state you were registered in you would be brought back home. Though you would be brought back regardless if you went to another state technically the government has custody of you if you are a minor who does not have a guardian. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

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Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you doing so. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.

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Thanks so much for reaching out to us. We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home your parents can file a runaway report, which is essentially a missing person report. This would put you in a national runaway database. Running away is a status offense; this means that it isn’t illegal, but it’s something you can’t do while still a minor. If a runaway report is filed and you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned to your parents. You may want to reach out to your local nonemergency police line (usually you can just dial 311) to see what protocol is for filing a stolen vehicle report.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Hi I'm 13. I want to run away from home because my boyfriend is giving me a promise ring but my parents are never going to let me be with him. Me,my boyfriend, and my two other friends want to go start a new life. But I have some concerns. For one we want to go to california and start a new life there but we're scared we'll get caught by border patrol. We are all under the age of 16 so we could drive but we don't have a drivers license or anything. What is the safest way for us to travel without getting caught. Also how would we travel without parental consent.

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Thanks for reaching out to NRS. It’s great that you’re researching all your options and thinking through possible dangers. If you ran away and your parents reported you as a runaway, it would likely be very difficult to avoid being brought home by the police, especially if you were driving a stolen car across state lines without a license. Even if you made it to CA undetected, minors are also required by law to stay in school until they’re 18 in CA (and 16 in most states), so if someone noticed you out during the day and thought you looked young they could alert authorities. To start a new life, you would need money for food and safe shelter, and almost all jobs require ID and your social security number. The most important thing is your safety, and we hear from many youth who end up in dangerous or violent situations because they ran out of money.

It may be a good idea to try talking to your parents about compromising on your relationship with your boyfriend, or giving you more independence. At NRS, we’re here for you 24/7 at 1-800-786-2929 if you want to talk more about your situation and brainstorm other options.

Hi I’m Adriana. I’m 14 and I want to go to Queensland for the holidays. I’m currently leaving in Melbourne. My mum allows me to go but my dad doesn’t. Can I just go even when the court orders say I can’t.

IP

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Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are in a difficult situation, and we understand it takes courage to reach out for help. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States of America (USA). Our knowledge of helpful community-based resources and our understanding of youth in crisis-related laws is limited to the USA. If you are located in a country outside of the USA, you can use this link to find a youth helpline in or around your country: https://www.childhelplineinternation...pline-network/.

We hope that by reaching out to a local resource, you are able to get the support you need from an organization that understands the laws and circumstances that affect youth in your country.

Hi my names Ashton I am 16 and I want to runaway from home for a while. I’m planning on staying in the area I’m from for a bit. Then flying to California on a plane. I have everything planned out but my concern are the police. What can they do? Will they look for me? Will I become a missing person? What are main things that you would do to prevent cops from finding me? I will be completely safe the whole time. I just need to know the key things. Thank you

IP

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Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what is going on. We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home your parents (or guardians) can file a runaway report, which is essentially a missing person report. Running away is a status offense; this means that it isn’t illegal, but it’s something you can’t do while still a minor. If a runaway report is filed and you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned to your parents/guardians. Runaway reports are entered into a national clearinghouse so if you were located by authorities anywhere they should be able to identify that you are a runaway.

It’s great to hear that you have a plan in place but it is important to consider all the possibilities that can occur if you leave home. You will need to plan out how you will cover basic necessities like travel, food, clothing, etc. You mentioned that you planned on flying to California, you may also need to look into airline policies to see if minors are allowed to travel unaccompanied. If you have a place to go in mind, it’s good to see what the expectations of the living arrangement will be like; rules, the amount of time you’re allowed to stay, if you’re expected to contribute financially, etc. Living on your own can also bring about many safety risks. You will need to consider ways that you can protect yourself from physical harm as well as the possibility of exploitation. This can all influence your decision to leave.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Hi i'm 16 and live in Arizona but i want to run away to Colorado, my boyfriend has been saying he'll buy me a ticket to get on a plane and leave to go to him but i dont want to get caught and in the state of arizona im told that you can be 17 and run away legally and they can't bring you back unless you're causing general harm to the public, i need help i dont want to live at home anymore i just need out of here so i can be happy

IP

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We are so glad you reached out to NRS for help. It is really responsible of you to want more information about leaving home before you make the decision to do so. We are not legal experts, but from what we know if you are under the age of 18 then your parent can file a runaway report. Running away is not illegal, but it does mean the police could return you home if they found you. Because you are thinking about traveling to a different state, we are not sure how police might be respond to a runaway report. Your local police department will have more information about this situation and you can ask them questions anonymously by calling their non-emergency number.

Your safety is our top priority. We are available 24/7 if you would like to talk more about your situation and explore some possible options. If you feel like you need to leave and get some space from home you can text "safe" and your current location to 44357 to be connected with the National Safe Place. They can provide you with somewhere to go if you can't be at home.

Please do not hesitate to give us a call (1-800-786-2929) or chat with us to talk more about what you need and what you want to do.

Hello my girlfriend and I are 17 years old turning 18 in 9 months her parents treat her poorly and are very verbally abusive and has threatened her safety on multiple occasions. We want to leave the state but I know that would be breaking a couple laws. What laws are we breaking? Potential trouble we could get into?

IP

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Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

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Hi, Thank you for reaching out to us; we are glad that you did. Getting caught running away depends on several factors which aren’t provided, like your age. But mainly it depends on what you think your parents/guardians would do. If you think they will file a runaway report with the police, you’d be placed on a national list, accessible to every jurisdiction.

If the police request your ID, we do not recommend resisting. As far as the airport, the TSA are trained to spot fake ID, so if yours doesn’t have a scannable bar code, you wouldn’t get past security.

We hope that you might consider reaching out to us to talk over your situation. We are here to listen and to help and to help keep you safe and off the streets. Whether by phone or live chat, we can help you discover the options that you have.
You can reach us 24/7 by phone at 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY) or via live chat through the website at www.1800runaway.org
We hope to hear from you,
Sincerely, NRS

Hi, my name is Gabriel and im 14, I want to run away from home. I live in California and I want to go to my friends house to live with then in Washington state. Im not sure if thats okay or what will happen when i get cought

IP

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Thanks for reaching out to us with this question. Leaving home to stay with a friend is a really big decision and can feel really overwhelming which is why we are here to answer any questions you might have. Just so you know, we are not legal experts. However, we do have some information on what might happen if you leave home that might be helpful to you. Because you are 14, you are legally considered a minor. That means that if you leave home without your parents permission, they legally have the right to file a runaway report with the police. The runaway report does not mean that you are in legal trouble. However, it would mean that if the police found you it would be their job to send you back home.

Running away is a big decision and there are a lot of factors to consider like safety and developing a plan for food and shelter. If you have further questions or need help finding resources for any of these things, you can reach us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or using our online chat service 24 hours a day.

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Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. We aren’t legal experts here at NRS, but since you are 17 you are under the age of majority(adulthood) and are considered a minor until your turn18. Generally speaking, if you do opt to leave your home your parents (or guardians) can file a runaway report, which is essentially a missing person report. Running away is a status offense; this means that it isn’t illegal, but it’s something you can’t do while still a minor. If a runaway report is filed and you are located by the authorities you will most likely be returned home.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.